Launching the Abaqus CAD Associative Interfaces

Three CAD associative interface (AI) plug-ins are delivered on the Assembly Media: SOLIDWORKS, Pro/ENGINEER, and CATIA V5. These plug-ins let you use your CAD geometry in Abaqus/CAE simulations.

The AI plug-ins are delivered in a .tar file embedded in the Assembly Media archive .tar files.

  1. After you have extracted the Assembly Media .tar files, find the table_of_contents.txt file as described in Assembly Media Content and Organization.

    The table_of_contents.txt file shows you where the AI archive file is located, for example under Volume 1: 

    <download_dir>/media_name/1/SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI/SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS.1-1.tar

  2. Optional: Copy the SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS.1-1.tar file to a different location, if desired.
  3. Extract the .tar file.
  4. Under this extraction directory you will find three subdirectories: 

    <extract_dir>/SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS/1/CATIA_V5-6R201x_Associative_Interface/
<extract_dir>/SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS/1/ProENGINEER_Associative_Interface/
<extract_dir>/SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS/1/SolidWorks_2.0_Associative_Interface/

    These subdirectories contain the files for each AI plug-in (in a .zip or .exe file) and the associated PDF documentation. Refer to the documentation for each AI for specific installation and user instructions.

    For the SOLIDWORKS AI, for example, open the following guide: 

    <extract_dir>/SIMULIA_Abaqus_AI.AllOS/1/SolidWorks_2.0_Associative_Interface/
  SolidWorksToAbaqus_AI.pdf

    In this guide, see "Installing the SOLIDWORKS Associative Interface add-in."